Sonic CDReview

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The greatest Sonic game you never played is here. Get it.

By Jack DeVries

I wanted to play Sonic CD so badly when it was released, but back in 1993 the only kid in school with a SEGA CD was the spoiled rich single child. And all he ever wanted to play was Night Trap and Kiss Kross: Make My Video, making me flee his house before playing the one game I was interested in. So it wasn't until the early 2000s that I finally got to beat Sonic CD, and enter into that elitist group of Sonic the Hedgehog snobs who praise the game and look down on the millions of people who never got to enjoy it (because cool things are cooler when you can lord it over people). Well bad news for a-holes, but good news for Sonic fans: Sonic CD is on XBLA, lovingly recrafted, and you can all enjoy the hell out of it.

If you're a Sonic fan, then this will be familiar. Sonic CD plays like its Genesis era counterparts. But what made the game so unique, and cool, was the time travel "gimmick." In each level there are multiple gates you can pass that will allow you to travel forwards or backwards in time, utilizing the Back to the Future method of time travel (go fast!). Depending on when in time you are the levels change with different layouts and enemies. There are basically three levels in one for ever act in the game, and playing right can change the ending of the game (a novel concept for a Sonic game in the early 90s).

The unique levels are largely the reason Sonic CD stands out after all these years. Well, that and the cool way the game changes perspective that blew us away in the days before we knew what Sonic looked like from above. I'm not going to review Sonic CD as a concept though, it's already been lauded by us, and many other outlets, as one of the best 2D platformers ever. So what's new and interesting about this port?

For the port, Sonic CD is presented with multiple filters (though I prefer the one that keeps it nice and pixelated), and full widescreen support. The game looks great in HD, and the colors are vibrant, accenting the changes in time periods. The controls are still tight in most places, and annoyingly less tight in the special stages.

A time attack mode and leaderboards bring Sonic into this generation, and offer a humbling experience to those of us who thought we were fast. Extras and bonuses like getting the option to switch between the Japanese or US soundtracks add to the package. But cooler than all that is the inclusion of Tails in Sonic CD. After beating the game, you unlock Sonics two-tailed foxy friend and can run (and fly) through the game again as him.

The Verdict

For those of you eagerly awaiting Sonic 4: Episode II, listen up. SEGA is promoting Sonic CD as the direct prequel to Sonic 4. So not only is this a super fun Sonic game for XBLA, it potentially offers tips about SEGA&#Array;s upcoming projects. That&#Array;s two reasons to get it, I shouldn&#Array;t have to give you a third.

Ok, fine, Tails. Three reasons.

Jack DeVries is an Associate Editor at IGN. He reviewed three different Sonic games in 2011. You can follow him on Twitter.